Grammar – ‘If Either of Them Isn’t Correct’ or ‘If Any of Them Isn’t Correct’?

grammar

Tell me please which sentence is correct and why.

If any of them isn't correct, the teacher will help you.

If either of them isn't correct, the teacher will help you.

And by the way, is it either of them is or either of them are?

Best Answer

Either of your suggested sentences could be correct, depending on the context. If there are exactly two problems or things to be checked, that is if "them" consists of exactly two items, then "either" would be correct. If "them" consists of more than two items, "any" would be correct.

While "any" can be used for a group of two, it usually isn't so used.

Strictly speaking, "either" means "one or the other", that is, it indicates a choice of exactly one of two things. "You may either go or stay." and so the use of either suggests that there is no chance of both things being not correct. One could say

If either or both of them isn't correct, the teacher will help you.

But this is a bit on the formal side, and where it is clear that "both" is possible, it could be omitted and implied.

And by the way, is it either of them is or either of them are?

It should be "either of them is". Because either indicates a choice of one option, it takes singular forms. It should also be "any of them is.

As the this post about the use of "each" says, singular forms should be used here, although most people will not strongly object to the incorrect plural forms. While "them" represents a group, "either", "any" (and "each" not used in the question) consider the members of that group one at a time, so singular forms are correct, and plural forms are not.

"Any of them" can be thought of as short for "any one of them" or "any one or more of them". Therefore one should say:

If any of the answers is incorrect, the teacher will help you.

One should not say: "If any of the answers are incorrect..."

Another acceptable alternative would be:

If any answer is incorrect, the teacher will help you.

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